Officials with the company, joined by city and county leaders and other guests, broke ground on the 7,800-square-foot restaurant this morning.

The restaurant will seat about 210 people, with outside seating for about 60.

Franchise owner Johnny Robbins anticipates employing 60-65 people at the restaurant, which is located on the corner of Main and Monaghan streets in the Fairpark District of downtown Tupelo.

Robbins anticipates opening by “March or April,” he said.

The project has been in the works for more than two years, and Robbins was the first franchise granted by Mugshots, said company cofounder Chris McDonald.

“We had five restaurants at the time,” he said. Mugshots, which first opened in Hattiesburg 10 years ago, now has 11 restaurants. A 12th will open in Auburn, Alabama later this year. Tupelo will be the company’s 13th location.

The company also gave away 100 box lunches today, with burgers cooked at the Starkville Mugshots.